The interesting thing about this mainboard is that it features an mSATA connector with a compact SSD drive from Intel with 20 GB capacity, which is specifically designed for Intel Smart Response technology. Read more about the features and functionality of this mainboard in our new review.

Conclusion

If it were not for the Intel series 311 SSD with a capacity of 20 gigabytes, which is included into its box, the GA-Z68XP-UD3-iSSD wouldn’t be much different from Gigabyte’s other entry-level mainboards. The mainboard is compatible with all LGA1155 processors, employs modern components, and features an easy-to-use and high-quality PCB. You can build a CrossFireX or SLI subsystem with it or use a CPU-integrated graphics core. It supports all modern interfaces save for eSATA, namely USB 3.0, SATA 6 Gbps and IEEE1394 (FireWire). The mainboard is as good as others at overclocking CPUs although our memory overclocking attempt wasn’t quite successful. It has a number of features typical of Gigabyte products: Phase LEDs showing the number of active phases in the CPU voltage regulator, an On/Off Charge connector for recharging USB-compatible mobile devices, two BIOS chips, and thick copper interconnects.

So, everything seems to be as usual, but the special mSATA connector with a 20GB Intel 311 SSD in it reveals the mainboard from a completely different angle. We know that Intel Smart Response technology helps make HDDs much faster and the Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3-iSSD allows you to get that performance boost without any effort. You don’t have to look for, buy and install a caching SSD as you get one included into the mainboard box. Another bonus is the Gigabyte EZ Smart Response utility which makes it simple to enable the technology. So, if you need a modern LGA1155 mainboard and want to accelerate your HDD with Intel Smart Response, the Gigabyte GA-Z68XP-UD3-iSSD is quite an attractive option.